Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-12
BUILDING UP A BIG NAVY
THE SENATE GETTING IT'S EYES
OPEN At LAST.

Messrs. Cameron, Hale and Stanford In
troduce Bills on the Subject-The
Former Proposes the Construction of
Ten Protected steel Cruisers-Mr.
Hale's Fleet More Diversified and Less
Expensive.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-In the Senate
to-day the bills "to increase the naval
establishment" and ITO provide for an
increase of the naval establishment"
were introduced, the former by Mr..
Cameron and the latter by Mr.. Hale, and
were referred to the Committee on Naval
Affairs, after statement by Mr.. Hale
that the two bills related to different
branches of the naval establishment.
MIR. Stanford introduced bin to pro-
vide mortars and heavy guns for the
armament of the forts, coast defenses and
vessels of the United States.
The bill introduced by Senator Cam
eron authorizes the President to have con-
structed by contract ten protected steel
cruisers with such armament for each as
the Navy Department may deem suitable,
each vessel to have maximum speed of
twenty knots, under tests and conditions
imposed by the Navy Department before
being accepted by the government. The
aggregate cost of all of the cruisers, ex-
elusive Of armament, Is not to exceed
$15,00O,00O, for the appropriation of which
sum the bill provides.
Section provides that In the construc-
tion Of the vessels all OF the provisions of
the act of Aug. 3, 1886, to increase the
naval establishment, las to material for
vessels, their engines, boilers and ma
chinery," the contracts under which they
are Quilt, the notice of and proposals for
tho anna OlQOa dra 70 n uE anil anpni6Na.
tions and method OF executing contracts,
shall be observed and followed, and the
vessels built in compliance with the
terms of the act 80 far as they relate to
the vessels constructed under the con-
tract.
A BONUS FOR BETTER SPEED,
Section provides that in case either of
the vessels shall on trial display a speed
greater than twenty knots bonus shall
be paid to the contractor of 5000, 900 for
the first knot in excess of twenty knots,
and of $4,000 for the second knot in eX-
cess OF the requirements, ana $l00. 900 for
each additional knot beyond the require
ments. For the purposes Of this section
$2,000000, or so much as may be neces-
sary, is appropriated.
Section appropriates $4800, 900 for the
armament of the vessels provided for in
the act,
SENATOR HALE'S MEASURE.
The companion bill introduced by Sem
ator Hale provides for the purpose of in
creasing the naval establishment. The
following sums of money are appro-
priated, to be expended by the President
in the exercise of his discretion, upon
plans and specifications to be furnished
by the Navy Department: For the con-
struction OF heavily armored vessels, or
armored floating batteries or rams, to be
used for coast and harbor defense, SI0,000,-
900; for the construction of light draughJ
gunDoats, suitable tor interior water
ways and canal service, $4,000 900; for
the construction of torpedo boats of the
highest attainable speed and efficiency,
100000; for torpedoes and torpedo appli-
ances, to be operated from naval vessels,
floating batteries or rams, 5000, 600. 1t is
provided that the gun boats and torpedo
boats authorized to be constructed by the
act shall be completed and tested within
twelve months from The signing of the
contract for their construction.